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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06198335

Efficacy Of M-TAPA and TAP Block Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Cholecystectomy is the most common abdominal surgical procedure in developed countries Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold standard surgical technique for gallstones.

The analgesic effectiveness of TAP block has been demonstrated after laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations. m-TAPA block has been described as an alternative analgesic technique in abdominal surgeries.

The aim of this study is to compare these two analgesic methods in terms of effectiveness for postoperative analgesia management after laparoscopic cholecystectomy operations.

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Key information

Conditions

Cholecystitis Biliary Tract Diseases Digestive System Diseases Gallbladder Diseases

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Mürsel Ekinci

Bursa, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

Cholecystectomy is the most common abdominal surgical procedure in developed countries Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is considered the gold standard surgical technique for gallstones.

Several factors play a role in pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This pain is complex and generally considered to be visceral. These factors are include phrenic nerve irritation caused by CO2 insufflation, abdominal distension, port incisions, the effect of gallbladder removal and individual factors.

Regional analgesia has been widely accepted by both patients and treating physicians and has become an important part of multimodal analgesia techniques. Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block has been shown to reduce postoperative pain like hysterectomy, cholecystectomy, cesarean section and colorectal surgery.

Ultrasound (US)-guided Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Block Through Perichondrial Approach (M-TAPA) is performed by applying local anesthetic only to the underside of the perichondral surface. It provides effective analgesia in the anterior and lateral thoracoabdominal area.

M-TAPA is a good alternative for analgesia of the upper dermatome levels and lateral abdominal region and may be an opioid-sparing strategy that provides better quality recovery in patients undergoing laporoscopic surgery. M-TAPA provides analgesia at the T5-T11 level in the abdomen. Sonoanatomy is easy to visualize and the spread of local anesthetic can be easily seen with US guidance. Cephalo caudal spread of local anesthetic solution produces analgesia in several dermatomes. There are studies investigating the efficacy of M-TAPA for postoperative pain management in bariatric surgery in the literature.

Global recovery score (QoR) 15 is a sensitive, reliable and easy method to measure postoperative recovery quality. This scale, which has become a promising tool for assessing the quality of the recovery period, questions various aspects of recovery in 5 different areas: pain, physical comfort, physical independence, psychological support and emotional state. It may be an important scale to evaluate the outcome of changes in healthcare for quality assurance purposes in perioperative clinical studies. For these reasons, the "Standardized Endpoints in Perioperative Medicine" initiative and the European Society of Anesthesia have recommended the use of the QoR-15 scale in clinical studies investigating patient comfort and pain levels after surgery.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of US-guided M-TAPA block and TAP for postoperative analgesia management after cholecystectomy. The primary outcome is to compare global recovery scores, the secondary outcome is to compare postoperative pain scores (NRS), to evaluate postoperative rescue analgesic (opioid) use and side effects (allergic reaction, nausea, vomiting) associated with opioid use in this study.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification I-II
  • Elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Exclusion criteria

  • Bleeding diathesis
  • Anticoagulant treatment
  • Local anesthetics and opioid allergy
  • Infection at the site of block
  • Patients who do not accept the procedure

Treatment and study plan

Modified Perichondral Approach Thoracoabdominal Nerve block

Other

M-TAPA block will be performed to Group M-TAPA at the end of the surgery, using US (Vivid Q) while the patient is in the supine position After providing aseptic conditions, the high frequency linear US probe (11-12 MHz, Vivid Q) will be covered with a sterile sheath, and an 80 mm block needle (Braun 360°) will be used. The US probe will be placed in the sagittal plane where the midclavicular line intersects with the costal cartilage corresponding to the costochondral angle. Using the In Plane technique, the probe is gently pushed to visualize the lower part of the costochondral angle at the central level, advancing the block needle in the caudal-cranio direction, 5 ml of saline will be injected into the layer between the transverse abdominal muscle and the lower plane of the costal cartilage, and the block location will be confirmed. After the block location is confirmed, a total of 20 ml + 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine (total 40 ml for both sides) will be injected bilaterally

Other names: Postoperative analgesia management

Transversus Abdominal Plane block

Other

TAP block will be performed to Group TAP at the end of the surgery, using US (Vivid Q) while the patient is in the supine position. After providing aseptic conditions, the high frequency linear US probe (11-12 MHz, Vivid Q) will be covered with a sterile sheath, and an 80 mm block needle (Braun 360°) will be used. USG will be placed transversely on the mid-axillary line between the iliac crest and subcostal planes. Using the In Plane technique, the block needle will be advanced into the fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles and the location will be confirmed by administering 5 ml of saline. The block needle will be advanced into the fascial plane between the internal oblique and transversus abdominis muscles and the location will be confirmed by administering 5 ml of saline.and than 20 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine (total 40 ml for both sides) will be injected bilaterally

Other names: Postoperative analgesia management

Primary outcomes

  1. Global recovery scoring system (patient satisfaction scale)

    Time frame: The quality of recovery will be evaluated out of a total of 150 points according to the QoR-15 test to be applied at the portoperative 24th hour.

    The investigators will use the Turkish version of Quality of Recovery / QoR-15 questionairre

    PART A How have you been feeling in the last 24 hours? (0 to 10, where: 0 = none of the time [poor] and 10 = all of the time [excellent])

    • Able to breathe easily
    • Been able to enjoy food
    • Feeling rested
    • Have had a good sleep
    • Able to look after personal toilet and hygiene unaided
    • Able to communicate with
    • Getting support from hospital doctors and nurses
    • Able to return to work or usual home activities
    • Feeling comfortable and in control
    • Having a feeling of general well-being

    PART B Have you had any of the following in the last 24 hours? (10 to 0, where: 10 = none of the time [excellent] and 0 = all of the time [poor])

    • Moderate pain
    • Severe pain
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Feeling worried or anxious
    • Feeling sad or depressed

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postoperative pain scores (Numerical rating scale) (0-meaning "no pain" to 10-meaning "worst pain imaginable")

    Time frame: Patients will be evaluated at the first 24 hours period postoperatively.

    Postoperative 24 hours period. Patients' pain scores will be questioned at 0, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 24 hours.

  2. The use of rescue analgesia

    Time frame: Meperidine consumption will be recorded at the first 24 hours period postoperatively.(total mg dose)

    The need for rescue analgesia will be recorded at the first 24 hours period postoperatively.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Mursel Ekinci

Other Gov

Collaborators

  • Ahmet Kaciroglu
  • Mustafa Dikici

Registry information

Official study title

Comparison Of Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Block Through Perichondrial Approach and Transversus Abdominal Plane Block in Analgesia Efficacy And Recovery Quality Following Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jan 10, 2024
Registry last updated
Mar 31, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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